NICARAGUA AND THE ISTHMIAN ROUTES
By A. P. DAVIS,
Hydrographer, U. S. Geological Survey
The state of Nicaragua is the largest of the Central American
republics. It lies entirely within the torrid zone, and contains
about 49,000 square miles, or about one-fourth more than the
state of Ohio, and is on the same meridian of longitude. It is
bounded on the east by the Caribbean sea, on the west by the
Pacific ocean, and lies between the republics of Honduras and
Costa Rica to the north and south. The northern part is largely
occupied by rugged mountains belonging to the main axis of the
Cordillera. A little farther south this range divides into two main
spurs, one following a southeasterly course, nearly parallel to
the Caribbean coast, almost to the south boundary of Nicaragua,
where it is cut through by the San Juan river. The west branch
closely follows the Pacific ocean, and is peculiar in its low alti
tude and the narrow strip of land it occupies.
The east coast for a distance of 20 to 30 miles inland is mostly
of a swampy nature. High rolling country approaches the coast
at Monkey Point and near Greytown, but with these exceptions
the coastal region is low, flat, and during the rainy season largely
covered with water.
Reliable information regarding rainfall in Nicaragua is ex
tremely meager. There is a record of 19 years at Rivas, which
began in January, 1880, and is still continued. This record
has been voluntarily kept by Dr Earl Flint, an American resi
dent of Rivas. A rainfall record was kept at-Masaya from July,
1886, to December, 1896, by Mr William Climie. The observa
tions were then transferred to Granada and have been continued
ever since, although results are at hand only to the end of 1897.
Observations of rainfall were also made in Granada in 1876 by
Ramon Espinola, and in 1877 by Dr Flint; also in 1883 and 1884
by the National Institute at Granada. At Bluefields observa
tions were made by Hon. W. H. Jackson and others from Sep
tember, 1883, throughout 1884 and 1885, and a portion of 1886.
The Nicaragua Canal Company kept a record of rainfall at